Prefabricated building construction



Filed NOV. 16, 1948 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 III / AIM" Oct. 26, 1954 T. -F.CONNOR 2,692,408

PREFABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed NOV. 16, 1948 ll Sheets-Sheet3 Oct. 26, 1954 T. F. CONNOR 2,692,408

PREFABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed NOV. 16, 1948 ll Sheets-Sheet5 Oct. 26, 1954 1-. F. CONNOR PREFABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION llSheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 16, 1948 lllltllrll l o I r Oct. 26, 1954 T.F. CONNOR PREFABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ll Sheets-Sheet 7 FiledNov. 16, 1948 m 1 0 .j m 2 g a 5 w m M Q a i, 2 3 1 J 4 W I d .m m 4 L Zx 7 y \L X J 7/ ,r

Oct. 26, 1954 1-. F. CONNOR 2,692,403

PREFABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 16, 1948 ll Sheets-Sheet8 Z' 9 Z Z L7 Z Tionnor Oct. 26, 1954 T. F. CONNOR PREIFABRICATEDBUILDING CONSTRUCTION ll Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed NOV. 16, 1948 I Z- fZ Oct.26, 1954 T. F. CONNOR PREFABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 11Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed NOV. 16, 1948 5 5. w z 1 H 5 I L I WW 1 4 5 n. k m3... lul Q w w L m w a III N. \Vwhl.

Oct. 26, 1954 T. F. CONNOR 2,692,408

PREFABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed NOV. 16, 1948 ll Sheets-Sheetll Patented Oct. 26, 1954 STATES PATENT OFFICE PREFABRICATED BUILDING-CONSTRUCTION Thomas F. Connor, Decorah,.Iowa

Application November 16, 19.48, SerialNo'. 60,307

12 Claims. (61. 20-2) This invention relates generally to housing, andmore especially to novel prefabricated building construction.

The primary object of my. invention is; to. proride-1a. novel buildingconstruction, in which the prefabricated foundation parts, wall,partition, roof section and other: units'may be: built with precision.at. the factory by mass production methods, and shippedto'and assembledfor temporary or'permanent use at the building site. or lot, with theaidof a hammer, wrench and screw driver, and without' the need ofemploying skilled labor.

A' further object of my invention is to provide afoundation, sill, skid,joist and floor assembly which will eliminate old and inefiicientmethods of building construction, and is designed "to accommodateassociated parts in an improved and'substantial manner.

A stillfurther object of my invention is to providesectionally builtwall sections which are mounted on and attached to the foundation ina-novel improved way;

Still another object of my invention is toprovide-a foundation and wallassembly in which corner posts are eliminated, and corner space utilizedfor ventilation, air conditioning and heat regulation.

Stillyet another object of my invention is to provide a sectionallycombined joist-rafter assembly which permits a plain ceiling surface anda curved'roofsurface.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel prefabricatedbuilding construction, in which: the foundation, side walls and roof areartistically harmonizedv and readily adjustable anddemountable.

Afurther object oftmy invention is to provide novelventilating, airconditioning and heat regulatinglmeans.

Another object of my invention is to provide for the introduction offlanged batten or weather strips onand between the wall and roofsections, and to. provide novel means for securing the aforesaid.weather strips in operative and removable position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novellstudding, cap foruse over end wall sections,,with projecting frieze.

A further object ofmy, invention is to provide a beveled edge waterdrip, at appropriate points.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for closing andrendering air and water tight,,a1l joint openings that are caused by thedrying. and seasoning offthe wood after the erection ofthe building.

Finally, the purpose of my invention is to accomplish theabove objectswith a material saving inmaterials, time, labor and cost.

With the foregoing and other objects in view that.willappear as thenature of my invention.

is-.better; understood, thesame consistsin the novelfeatures .of.construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccom- 2. panying, drawings and more" particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In. the: accompanying drawings, which ares-for illustrative purposesonly and: are thereforenot drawn-to scale:

Figure 1 is a plan view of therfoundation and associatedparts.

Figure 2v is a vertical; transverse section, taken on line 22 of Figure.1.

Figure 3 is ahorizontalsection,.taken above the foundation and flooring;

Figure 41s a verticaltransverse section, taken on line 4-4 ofFigure 3.

Figure. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section.

Figure-6. is a plan: view ofthe roof frame.

Figure 7' is a vertical transverse section, taken on line .1'|of Figure27.

Figure-8 is a similar view, taken on line 8--8 of Figure 7..

Figure 9 is a detail vertical transverse-section, taken on line 9-9 of.Figure 7.

Figure 10 is also a vertical transverse section; taken on line Ill-11]of Figure 8.

Figure 11' is a detail'horizontal section, taken on line I 1-1 1 ofFigure 8'.

Figure 12 is a detail vertical transverse section, taken on line12-12-of Figure 8.

Figure 13 is a detail horizontal section, taken on line 13-13 of Figure28.

Figure 14 is a detail vertical transverse section, taken on line 14-1 4of Figure 8;

Figure 15' is a vertical transverse section, taken on line 151 5 ofFigure 8.

Figure 16 is a horizontal section, taken on line 161 6 of Figure 3.

Figure 17 is a bottom plan view of one floor section.

Figure 18 is a face view, partly in section, of one rear corner of thebuilding, showing the air intake of the ventilating system.

Figure 19 is a horizontal section, taken on line 19-49 of Figure 18.

Figure 19-A is a similar view, showing a modified form of cornice.

Figure 20 is a horizontal section, taken on line 21l'20 of Figure 18.

Figure 21 is a face view, partly in section, of front corner of the.building, showing the corresponding air outlet duct of the ventilatingsystem.

Figure 22 is a plan view of the air outlet duct and associated parts.

Figure 23 is. a horizontal section, taken on line 23--23 of Figure 21.

Figure 24 is av detail vertical transverse section, taken on line 24-24of Figure 27.

Figure 25 is. a similar view, taken on line 25'-25 of Figure 27.

Figure 26 is an enlarged detail view of the lower. auxiliary strip andcorresponding foundation rails.

Figure 27 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the assembled building,and Figure 28 is a side elevation,.par.tlybroken away, of the assembledbuilding.

Referring to the drawings for a more particular description of myinvention, and in which drawings like parts are designated by like reference characters throughout the several views, A designates thefoundation, comprising the longitudinal sills l and 2 arranged atopposite sides thereof, the central longitudinal supporting beam Thesills I and 2 are formed with the longitudinal 3 and the transverse endstrips 4 and 5.

frame by tightening the cap nuts 21. The proof the floor boards areflush with the upper surfaces of the aforesaid sills and flanges, thuspresenting a continuous unbroken floor surface and a greater floor area.The foundation may be assembled on the ground for portable or temporaryuse or on a cellar wall for permanent use.

The lower ends of the vertical studding ID of the side walls rest on thesills l and 2, and the lower ends of the vertical studding ll of the endwalls are supported on the end strips 4 and'5. The lower ends of thestudding l and H are fastened together by the cross bolts l2 and securedto the sills l and 2 and the end strips 3 and 4 by the bolts l3 and nutsl4. As shown, the shanks l5 of the fastening bolts l3 pass throughcorresponding openings IS in the aforesaid sills and end strips,adjacent the corresponding vertical studding, and are fastened in placeby the nuts I4, under the bottom faces of these parts.

Figure 5 of the drawings show a sectionally constructed side wall, inwhich I! is the door opening, la the window opening and IS a solid wallsection.

The upper ends of the studding are fastened together by the cross boltsand nuts and 21, respectively. The aforesaid cross bolts and nuts 20 and2 I, also provide means for securing the flat elongated heads 22 of thevertical bolts 23 to the upper ends of the studding. As shown, theshanks Y 24 of said perpendicular bolts 23 extend upwardly through thestudding caps 25 and top 26 of the roof, and the latter is held in placeby the nuts 21.

Figure 6 of the drawings shows the supporting frame of the roof, whichrests on top of the studding and comprises the body and end sections 28and 29, respectively. In order to provide that the end sections 29conform to end roof requirements, the strips 30 are bolted in spacedrelation, through the use of the filler blocks 3|, to the outer rails 32of said end sections 29, with their outer faces flush with the endframe-work.

Interlocking wooden strips 33 are attached to the studding to form theside and end walls of the house, except at the top and bottom of saidside and end walls, to allow openings 34 and 35 to facilitate adjustmentof the bolts l3 and 23. These openings are then closed by the woodenstrips 36 and 31, respectively, which are secured in place by the screws38. The bottom edges of the strips 3! are beveled, as at 39, tofacilitate the discharge of drip water. The strips 33 may be assembledand fastened to the studding at the factory, while the strips 36 and 31are shipped in bundles and applied at the building site.

' jectin'g frieze forming portions 25' of the studding caps may befastened to said rails by the screws 40, or other equivalent means.

Particular attention is invited to the fact that by tightening the nutsof the perpendicular bolts 13 and 23, an air and. water tight seal willbe effected between the joints or abutting parts, and that furthertightening of the aforesaid nuts may be made from time to time tocompensate for any crevices or openings caused by the drying andseasoning of the wood.

In practice, the door and windows are provided with filler strips 4| and42, respectively, and at the top with suitable water drips 43, which maybe formed of sheet metal bent into the desired form, as illustrated inFigure 10 of the drawings, and fastened in place by the screws 44 and45. The window ledge 45 is also beveled and extended outwardly, as shownin Figure 12 of the drawings, to facilitate the discharge of water,sleet, ice, etc.

Weather strips 41 are placed between all section joints to exclude coldair and rain. Each -.of these strips comprises the outer bead 48 ofsemi-circular shape in cross section, formed with a pair of inwardlyextending parallel flanges 49, between which is interposed and carried astrip 50 of suitable insulating material. As shown in Figure ll, theflanges and insulating strip 50 of the weather strips 41 are inserted inthe corresponding joints or openings, with the beads fitting against theouter faces of the adjacent parts.

An important feature of my invention is the ventilating system utilizedfor the introduction of fresh air into the interior of the building andthe subsequent discharge of the stale or vitiated air to the outside. Incarrying out these objects, the corners at one end of the building areprovided with perpendicular air ducts 5|, which are formed by theadjacent right-angularly disposed studding covered by the curved cornicestrips 52 to permit the ingress of the fresh air into the interior ofthe building, and the corners at the opposite end of the building areprovided with perpendicular air ducts 53 to facilitate the discharge ofthe stale or vitiated air to the outside, said air ducts 53 also beingformed by the adjacent right-angularly disposed studding covered by thecurved cornice strips 54. The lower ends of the cornice strips 52 areformed with openings 55 adaptedto be closed by the sliding shutters 55,operated by cords or flexible elements 51 extending into the interior ofthe building within convenient reach of the operator. The upper ends ofthe perpendicular air ducts 5i are formed with vents 58, which permitthe passage of the fresh air from the former into the interior of thebuilding. The perpendicular airducts 53 are provided at their lower endswith transverse vent openings 59, which receive the stale vitiated airwhich passes upwardly along said air ducts and finally discharges to theoutside through the flanged stacks 60. The stacks increase the draft andhence, increase the circulation of the air into and out of the building.The openings 55 may be closed or opened by the shutters 56 as desiredand hence, the circulation of the fresh air into the building is at alltimes under the control of the operator. In this way, the air in thebuilding may also be conditioned and the temperature controlled withincertain limits.

It will be understood that the several compo nent parts will be formedand joined together'in" such a way as to create the most artistic andharmonious efiect, and with a view of saving time, labor and expense.

From the foregoing description taken in con-- nection with the drawings,it is thought that the construction, operation and advantages of myinvention will be readily understood, without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form, proportions and minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in theappended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. A prefabricated building comprising a door member, a roof member,side and end wall members having a vertical stud element at each end ofsaid side and end wall. members respectively, a foundation memberadapted to support said floor member and form an air-excluding juncturetherewith and adapted to support said side and end wall members, saidside and end wall members being disposed. at right angles to each otherin a manner such that said vertical stud elements form vertical,exterior, right angle void at each corner of said building, a coverplate member attached to said end and side wall members and coveringsaid voids to form a duct at each of said corners, means for admittingatmospheric air to at least one of said ducts, means for admitting saidatmospheric air from said first-mentioned duct to the interior of saidbuilding, means for discharging vitiated air from the interior of saidbuilding to at least one of said ducts at the opposite end of saidbuilding relative to said first-mentioned duct, means for dischargingvitiated air from said second-mentioned duct to the atmosphere, meansfor attaching said side and end wall members to said foundation memberand means for attaching said roof member to said side and end wallmembers.

2. A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means foradmitting atmospheric air to said first-mentioned duct is a manuallyoperated shutter positioned in the lowermost portion of said cover platemember, said means for admitting atmospheric air from saidfirst-mentioned duct to the interior of said building is an opening inthe uppermost portion of said stud elements, said means for dischargingvitiated air from the interior of said building to said secondmentionedduct is an opening in the lower portion of said stud elements, and saidmeans for discharging vitiated air from said second-mentioned duct tothe atmosphere is a stack positioned over the upper end of saidsecond-mentioned duct.

3. A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cover platemember is an outwardly curved vertical strip.

4. A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said side and end wallmembers comprise a plurality of sheathed rectangular sections having avertical stud element at each side thereof and include means forattaching said sections together to form unitary end and side wallmembers and sealing means disposed between each of said centrallylocated sections to exclude air.

5. A structure in accordance with claim 4 wherein said sealing meanscomprise outer beads of semicircular form in cross section formed withinwardly extending parallel spaced flanges with compressible insulatingstrips interposed between and carried by said flanges.

d. A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said foundation membercomprises end and side elements and said end and side elements haveoutwardly projecting flanges in the upper portion thereof adapted toreceive said means for attaching said side and end wall members to saidfoundation member and expose said attaching means to the exterior ofsaid building and having inner recesses in the upper portion of saidside and end elements adapted to receive and support said floor memberand form a flush juncture with said floor member at the upper surfacethereof.

*1. A structure in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means forattaching said side and end wall members to said foundation member arebolt means attached to said side and end wall members, passing throughsaid flanges of said side and end elements, and terminating inadjustable nuts at the outside bottom of said building.

8. A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means forattaching said roof memher to said side and end wall members are boltmeans attached to said end and side wall members, passing through saidroof member, and terminating in adjustable caps at outside top of saidbuilding.

9. A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said roof membercomprises a plurality of curved sheathed sections and includes means forattaching said sections together to form a unitary roof member andsealing means disposed between each of said centrally located sectionsto exclude air.

10. A. structure in accordance with claim 9 wherein said roof member isattached to said side and end wall members through a frieze formingplate resting on the upper end of said side and end wall members.

11. A structure in accordance with claim 9 wherein said sealing meanscomprise outer beads of semicircular form in cross section formed withinwardly extending parallel spaced flanges with compressible insulatingstrips interposed between and carried by said flanges.

12. A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said floor membercomprises a plurality of fitted rectangular sections and includes meansfor attaching said sections to each other to form a unitary floormember.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 827,039 Noblett July 24, 1906 856,457 Feehery June 11, 19071,062,994 Pruden May 2''], 1913 1,143,697 Gallant et a1 June 22, 19151,337,745 Bassett Apr. 29, 1929 1,379,516 Benjamin May 24, 19211,449,244 Nilson Mar. 13, 1923 1,459,129 Batty Mar. 27, 1923 1,598,962Fisch Sept. 7, 1926 1,622,952 lviichod Mar. 29, 192'? 2,019,874 MathenyAug. 13, 1935 2,034,215 Stencel Mar. 1'7, 1936 2,114,158 Vasbinder Apr.12, 1938 2,187,767 Betcone Nov. 22, 1938 2,165,336 Brogden July 11, 19392,226,332 Bacci Dec. 24, 1940 FORHGN PATENTS Number Country Date 842,094France of 1939 866,433 France of 1941

